2008 Porsch Boxter RS60 Spyder is almost perfect

Published 8:00 pm, Saturday, August 23, 2008

The 2008 Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder is not perfect. The radio sucks.

If one were so inclined, one could also quibble with the $69,925 sticker on my tester (don't expect to haggle) for what was once thought of as the affordable Porsche roadster. But that's it. So let's call the Spyder near perfect and be done with it.

You can read the rest of this review if you'd like, and for my ego's sake, I'd recommend it, but you've already heard its essence. The rest, as Rabbi Hillel once said, is commentary.

However, the editor gets highly annoyed when I turn in 92-word reviews, so on with the commentary.

Before Porsche's bold and extremely successful move into SUV manufacturing, it used to be known for making high-performance sports cars like the 911. Some, like the 911, were rather expensive, so for those of us with fewer homes than John McCain, Porsche liked to offer a more affordable entrée into its exclusive ranks.

That's where the Boxster came in. The two-seat mid-engine roadster first came to market as a 1997 model, and has thrived even as top-notch competitors like BMW jumped in. Indeed, until Porsche started selling the Cayenne, the Boxster was its top seller.

The car was last revamped in 2005, with an all-new interior among the changes. Last year, Porsche bumped the power up again and this year, Porsche came up with a new treat for the faithful: the limited edition (only 1960 made worldwide and only 800 to be sold in the United States) 2008 Boxster RS 60 Spyder.

The Spyder is inspired by the Type 718 RS 60 Spyder, which, piloted by Hans Herrmann and Olivier Gendebien, won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1960 (hence the 1960 made) against much more powerful competition. This new limited edition echoes that giant killer in color, design, features and philosophy, Porsche says.

Part of that philosophy must have been an oddly endearing humility. There is no external marker signifying the exclusive nature of the Spyder. Instead, a small silver-colored plaque on the lid of the glove compartment tells you what number of the 1960 Spyders made yours happens to be.

But those in the know will know just how special your RS 60 Spyder is. There are design cues. The front end is taken from Porsche's SportDesign Package and distinguishes the RS 60 Spyder significantly from the current Boxster S to which it is most closely related. Spacer plates move the 19-inch Porsche SportDesign wheels into an even more prominent position in the wheel arches.

The paintwork is an exclusive GT silver metallic. The interior of mine was Carrera red leather, with distinctive matching power soft top. A dark gray leather interior with a black top is a less striking alternative. The stainless steel door entry guards display the model designation, and the instrument cluster has its cover removed with the GT silver metallic instruments set wider apart to give the Spyder's dash more of that race car look.

But it's when you start the engine that you really know the difference. Porsche says this is the most powerful Boxster ever. The horizontally opposed 3.4-liter 6-cylinder has been tweaked, with the exhaust flow modified and the dual tailpipe sports exhaust system helping the RS 60 become the first Boxster to break the 300 horsepower barrier.

The engine actually kicks out 303 horses and 251 lb.-ft of torque. The transmission is the usual superb short-throw six-speed. The power is amazing, the handling divine. Whether blasting off the line or accelerating to change lanes, the RS 60 instantly fulfills your every wish, with a steering that seems to read your mind, so quickly and precisely does it respond.

I don't have an official 0 to 60 time for the RS 60, but the Boxster S with the six-speed manual has identical gas mileage of 18 city, 26 highway, same torque and 10 fewer horses. It goes from 0 to 60 in 5.1 seconds, so I'd expect maybe a 5.0 second time from a standing start to past the speed limit for the RS 60. Top speed, in case you're wondering, is 169 mph. I wouldn't advise trying to verify that number anywhere off the track.

I issue this warning because you might be tempted to try. While the engine powers the rear wheels, the front wheels try to lure this close to perfectly balanced automobile into slicing through the sharpest curves it can find just a little bit faster than the driver previously thought possible. This is a seductive machine, so easy to drive and so lacking in flaws that any halfway decent driver begins to imagine himself capable of being part of one of the legendary Porsche racing teams, ready to take on the Ferraris or now, the Audis, any time, any place.

But back on earth, few of us can afford to have too many houses to remember or a car that's only suitable for the racetrack. Most of us need a car we can drive to work in as well. The Boxster does not disappoint.

The RS 60 doesn't have to be driven fast to be appreciated. It just has to be driven. No matter the circumstances, the RS 60 remains obedient and well behaved.

While one does get impatient sitting in traffic, that's because of the anticipation of the open road, not the frustration that often comes with trying to tame a high performance machine in a traffic jam. The RS 60 may not like sitting there waiting for the construction to clear, but it won't take its anger out on you. Instead, like a thoroughbred with its favorite groom, it sits compliantly, figuratively nuzzling you until it's time to open the gates.

For the third consecutive year, Porsche was named best in initial quality by J.D. Power with the fewest problems per hundred vehicles in the 2008 Initial Quality Study. That's not surprising given the quality of workmanship in the RS 60. Fit and finish were superb. The cabin is comfortable, seats capacious and supportive, and, radio aside, controls and gauges easy to use and understand.

The top is a power top. Opening it requires flipping a handle then pressing a switch. It opens quickly and smoothly, and can be operated at speeds up to 30 mph. With the top up, the seal is tight and wind and road noise tolerable. With the top down and the wind barrier up, conversation is possible at highway speeds.

As with all Boxsters, having storage space both under the hood up front and in the trunk in back means you can actually pack well for the weekend. Storage capacity is 4.6 cubic feet in the trunk, 5.3 cubic feet up front.

I'd recommend keeping a bag packed. With its superb driving characteristics, the 2008 Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder is the kind of car that will have you finding excuses to make long trips, just so you can drive. Boxsters are like that. From the base version at a base price of $45,800 to the exclusive RS 60 Spyder starting at $64,900, there still is no substitute.

By the way, remember the radio that sucks. Turn the engine on and listen to it rumble. You won't care about the radio. You'll wonder why it's even there.